Basics Concerning Gastric Banding And Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Ryan Meyer


Bariatric surgeries are increasingly becoming an acceptable method of weight control in New York. In general these methods achieve their effect by reducing the stomach capacity which in turn reduces the amount of food that an individual can eat at a given time. Related to the same is early satiety and reduced absorption of nutrients. There are three main types of bariatric operations that are performed. These include gastric bypass, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy.

Banding and gastrectomy are more similar than they are different. Banding is performed by placing a silicone band on a part of the stomach (usually the upper portion) so that a compression effect reduces the size of the organ. The individual can consume about one ounce of food most of which goes to the provision of energy with very little being stored. Faster filling results in early satiety which further reduces the amount of food eaten.

There are two main forms of surgical approaches that can be used in the placement of silicone bands. The first, the open technique, is performed through a large incision in the anterior abdominal wall. Under direct visualization, the surgeon locates the stomach and places the band in the desired region manually. The second method which is the commoner and more preferred of the two is the laparoscopic approach. Here access to the abdominal cavity is through very small incisions.

The compression force that is used will vary from one individual to another. The most important determinant is the weight of the individual. Obese individuals will get a higher compression force than those that are classified as overweight. A tube connected to the silicone band can be accessed from an area under the skin. Fluid can be injected or withdrawn from this tubing so as to either increase or reduce the magnitude of compression.

There are a number of complications that may be encountered with this procedure. These include among others, injury to vital structures in the abdominal cavity, infections, bleeding, nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are often the result of too much compression. Withdrawing some water from the control tubing helps relieve the pressure which in turn reduces the likelihood of nausea and vomiting. Antibiotics have to be administered to reduce the risk of infections.

Gastrectomy can be conducted either laparoscopically or the open procedure. The laparoscopic option is by far, the more preferred due to the fewer complications. In performing gastrectomy, close to 80% of the stomach is removed and discarded. This makes the procedure irreversible unlike banding. The resultant organ looks like a sleeve and hence its name.

When the stomach is converted into the tubular structure, the period of time that food takes in the organ is considerably reduced. This is a desired effect of the operation. Side effects that arise from the performance of sleeve gastrectomy are almost the same as those that are realized with the banding technique. Those that may be specific to gastrectomy include leakage of food through incisions on the stomach and displacement of staples or stitches.

An ideal candidate to undergo bariatric surgery is one who has attempted achieving their objective using conservative methods. Such include participation in regular physical exercise and diet modification in a manner that reduces carbohydrate and fat content. Persons that have a high body mass index BMI of say, 40, are more likely to benefit than those with a lower value of this index.




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